Crime wave in Bream Bay

There has been a spate of rural burglaries targeting farm equipment in the Bream Bay.

A spate of rural burglaries targeting farm equipment in the Bream Bay area has seen frustrated farmers offer a reward to help catch those responsible.

Bream Bay police Acting Sergeant Martin Geddes said there is a crime wave going on rurally in the Bream Bay District with the area hit every second night or so with burglaries and thefts over the past two weeks

Mr Geddes said the thieves, who he suspects are responsible for most, if not all the burglaries, are mostly targeting farms and he suspects they spend some time casing the places out before striking.

On Tuesday night, a Ruakaka farm was targeted with an implement shed broken into and a chainsaw taken, he said.

"The night before, a construction site on Port Marsden Highway (was targeted) with an attempt to take a loader which had been started and moved," Mr Geddes said.

"Local farmers have put up a reward for any information leading to the recovery and apprehension of offenders."

The burglaries started on January 28 or 29 with the overnight raid on a cow shed on South Rd, where a fishing torpedo and red Honda 350 quad bike were taken.

Between January 29 and 30, three galvanised farm gates were stolen from a farm at Applecross Rd while the following night, a boat and trailer - a white Stabi Coast, 1410 Fisher and 40HP Yamaha outboard - were stolen from a Hector Lang Dr property.

Then, between February 1 and 2 there was a burglary of a farm tool/implement shed on South Rd in the vicinity of the theft of the Honda quad.

Property taken from the shed included two orange Stihl chainsaws, an Antilia waterblaster, two socket sets and a pair fencing pliers.

"It looks to me that all these burglaries are connected with some local knowledge involved," Mr Geddes said.

Anybody with information can ring the Crimestoppers line anonymously on 0800 555 111, Whangarei Police Station on 09 4304500 or Ruakaka Police on 09 432 7719.